At least 17 people died — several, like Gower, in areas not under mandatory evacuation orders — and more than 100 homes were obliterated. Lewin criticized the federal wireless emergency alert system, saying it “is broken.” The alerts appear to have not reached phones on the Verizon network, he said. Tom Fayram, a deputy public works director, said that whether the county issues mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, they should be taken seriously. In the wake of mudslides, some question why the mandatory evacuation zone — and the door-to-door visits — were not more widespread. Gower’s family isn’t sure why her house on East Valley Road was not under a mandatory evacuation order.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 12, 2018 00:45 UTC